Cleveland County, NC Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code § 7-28, hours of use
- Closed hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily
- Applies to
- Broad River public recreation areas, unincorporated county
- Exceptions
- Boat launch/retrieval, designated camping/RV areas, posted bank fishing
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 7-27
Summary
Cleveland County's public recreation areas along the Broad River close every night, including Sundays, between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. under Code § 7-28. Entering or remaining after closing is unlawful unless you are launching or retrieving a boat, staying in a designated camping or RV area, or bank fishing at the posted Highway 150 canoe access.
All public recreation areas located within the unincorporated boundaries of the county shall be closed between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. each day, including Sunday. It shall be unlawful for any person to enter or to remain in such recreation areas during such closed hours, with the following exceptions: (1)Use or entry for the exclusive purpose of launching or removing boats, and then only if such launching and retrieval of boats takes place within a reasonable time.(2)Use of those areas contained and encompassed in such recreation areas designated for camping or occupancy by recreational vehicles, and then only if such occupants are lawfully engaged and occupied in camping or parking of recreational vehicles or are the invited guests of any person so lawfully occupied.
Full Breakdown
Section 7-26 defines a 'public recreation area' as any public area approved by a federal, state or local agency for access to the Broad River in the unincorporated portions of the county, covering boat ramps, parking areas and access points. daily, including Sunday, and makes it unlawful to enter or remain during those hours. Three narrow exceptions apply: people launching or retrieving a boat within a reasonable time, people lawfully camping or occupying a recreational vehicle in an area designated for that use (plus their invited guests), and bank fishing at the Broad River canoe access south of the Highway 150 bridge during posted hours.
Article II, adopted under Ord. No. 88-01 on May 16, 1988, also bars a separate list of unlawful acts at these areas under § 7-29, including possessing an unsealed alcoholic beverage, carrying a firearm without a concealed-carry permit, building an open fire outside designated spots, and disorderly conduct.
Violations & Fines
Violating the curfew or any other rule in this article is a misdemeanor under § 7-27, punished according to the general penalty in § 1-8. Because § 7-29 folds firearms, alcohol and disorderly-conduct violations into the same article, a ranger or deputy who finds someone in a closed recreation area after 10:00 p.m. can add those charges to the curfew violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fish at a county recreation area after dark?
Am I allowed to stay overnight if I'm camping there?
What happens if I'm caught in a county park after curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cleveland County
Compare Cleveland County to another location·View the North Carolina curfew laws overview
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